The US Senate has failed to advance a bill that would have cut off funding to cities that refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies in efforts to punish undocumented immigrants. The White House says it would have vetoed the bill.

The bill ‒ known as the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act ‒ would have held "sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for defying Federal law" and "increase penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after being removed" while providing "liability protection for State and local law enforcement who cooperate with Federal law enforcement and for other purposes." The bill's sponsor is Senator David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican who is currently running for governor of that state.

Senate Dems block GOP bid to cut funding for 'sanctuary cities.' Bill had no chance but Sen David Vitter wanted vote for his gov campaign.

"It was introduced as an odious act of scapegoating," Pablo Alvarado, executive director of the organization said.

"It is being used to defend unjustifiable deportations and it perfectly symbolizes the political cowardice of lawmakers both in Congress and within the Obama Administration and their collective failure to reform outdated US immigration policy," he continued. "It is also a reminder that going forward, progress will and must be made at the state and local level by bottom-up community organizing, through courageous activism, and with litigation to uphold civil rights and constitutional values."

Thank goodness fear-mongering failed & we rejected anti-immigrant "sanctuary cities" bill
As son of immigrants, I'm proud I voted AGAINST it

"For too long we have sat by while sanctuary jurisdictions release dangerous criminals into the community to harm our citizens," he added. "It’s time we put an end to it. It’s time we work toward protecting our communities, rather than continuing to put them in danger."

President Barack Obama would have vetoed the bill if the Senate vote had succeeded, the White House said Tuesday. The House of Representatives passed a similar bill earlier this year.

The "Administration believes that these provisions would lead to mistrust between communities and State and local law enforcement agencies; undermine the ability of law enforcement to keep communities safe across the country; and impede our efforts to safely, fairly, and effectively enforce the Nation's immigration laws," the Office of Management and Budget said Tuesday in a statement ahead of the vote.

The vile “sanctuary cities” bill might as well be called the "Donald Trump Act.” It unfairly paints all immigrants as criminals and rapists.

Many major US cities ‒ including as San Francisco, California and Miami, Florida ‒ are considered "sanctuary cities" for undocumented immigrants. These cities generally prohibit municipal resources from being used in efforts to enforce federal immigration laws. Numbers USA, a group in opposition to increased immigration, says more than 300 cities and counties in the US do not cooperate with immigration enforcement.

The legislation came about following the July killing of Kathryn Steinle, who was shot in San Francisco by a seven-time convicted felon who had been deported to Mexico five times. Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez was released by San Francisco authorities after drug charges against him were dropped, even though US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had requested that Lopez-Sanchez be detained.